POLITICAL SEX SCANDALS: This can get complicated because political sex scandals often spill over into the category of political corruption, involving, as they almost inevitably do, hush money, trips paid for with taxpayer funds and "enablers" -- aides or close relatives scrambling to cover up the bad behavior.

While the army and Marines have enough forces available, Gates said "enablers" - specialist units that fly helicopters, gather battlefield intelligence and clear roadside bombs - were in particularly short supply, a cause of some concern.